3. They're on the outside. If surgery left you with only one kidney, or a big dent in your liver, no one would ever need to know. No such luck with breast cancer.

4. You can't really talk to men about it in much detail. When I was discussing my medical leave with my male bosses, I felt it necessary to explain why the recuperation timetable would be so long. There wasn't just the mastectomy, I said. There was the...um....(and here I waved my hand vaguely in the air),,,,"the remodeling."

5. In the beginning, when you have to go to all these diagnostic tests and appointments that are absolutely terrifying to contemplate, you're not allowed to wear any deodorant! The reason is medically sound: The armpit area needs to be clear of any residue. But still, that is one sick joke.